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It’s early. Earlier than she would have liked to be up given the jet lag, but the sun is rising quickly and there’s a long day of press ahead of her. The air still has a bite to it as she steps out onto the balcony but the Los Angeles sunlight on her face makes her smile. She’s just taken a sip of her tea when her phone buzzes in her back pocket.
Fuck. She was hoping she would have more time before getting a call from him about the Variety article that just dropped.
She takes a deep breath before she accepts the call.
“Hello?”
“So, you hate me now?” He doesn’t sound angry, but there is some heat behind his words. Like he’s holding himself back.
“What are you talking about? Of course, I don’t hate you.”
“Really?” He clears his throat before reading from the article, “He and I have an ongoing love-hate relationship.”
“I said that about your writing and editing style, and you know that. Where in there did I say I hate you?”
“You’re pissed at me.” He retorts quickly.
She sighs. “I don’t have time for this right now, Jason.”
“Because you’re pissed at me?”
“Because I’m busy!” She takes a deep breath again and lowers her voice. She doesn’t want anyone inside her suite to overhear this particular call.
“I have things going on. Shouldn’t you be at some sporting event or fucking a 25 year old, or something?” Shit. She didn’t mean to let that slip.
“So, now we get to what you’re really pissed about.”
“Fuck off, Sudeikis.”
“Yup, hit the nerve. I’ve apologized, Hannah. We’ve been over this.”
“If you think that’s what I’m pissed about, then you really don’t know me at all.”
“I think I know you well enough.”
“I really don’t think you do.” She knows that statement sounds false to her own ears, but she silently prays he can’t hear it just as well. He probably can; he always has.
…
…
His voice softens as he asks, “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
She wants to say yes. “I don’t know.”
He takes an audible breath over the line. “This new guy - is it serious?”
She looks through the sliding glass door to her suite. He’s in the main bedroom, fast asleep in the bed they shared the night before. She can’t see him but his image fills her mind instantly.
“He’s a good man. He’s kind and supportive and we have a good thing going.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
She lowers her voice even more as she leans against the balcony railing. “He’s met my girl. She likes him. He’s good to her - to both of us. Yes, I think it likely is serious.”
…
“I really am busy, Jason. I’m sorry if what I said in the article upset you.”
“Yeah, no, it’s all good.” She can hear the hurt in his voice that he’s trying so desperately to contain.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, no, I’m good. I’m fine.”
…
“If you’re happy, that’s what matters.”
“Jason —”
“No, it’s okay. I’m really okay. I’ll let you go.”
…
“We’ll talk later, Wadders.”
“Okay. We’ll talk later, Sudeikis.”
He hangs up before she can even think to say anything more. She doesn’t realize she’s crying until she pulls the phone from her ear and sees her reflection on the screen that’s now dark. She didn’t mean to break both their hearts, just like she knows he didn’t mean to either.
She takes a deep breath, and then another, before wiping her face and drinking more of her tea. She’s got a long day of press and meetings and photoshoots.
Onward. That’s the only way to go from here. Onward.